Wow, thanks for the feedback, Sounsyy!
Ah, yeah, I'll admit to coming up with the population figure on the fly, and probably should have done more in the way of researching Edo-era population demographics. The idea - which I didn't get into a whole lot - is that Teibo and the others weren't regional powerhouses, but weren't completely insignificant either. A cursory look tells me that a population of could probably be reduced to something like a thousand people or less and still fit that bill, and would make it a bit more believable that it could slip through the cracks as an isolated mountain village.Â
Regarding location, I figured it made the most sense to situate Teibo in Yanxia for cultural/racial reasons, and originally - back before we had our current map and I was operating off of Encyclopedia descriptions - it actually *was* the furthest north (but I had assumed the Steppe to be in the western half of the continent, rather than the bulk of the north). My reasoning behind it having not been discovered was its own self-imposed uninvolvement and isolation - surely Garlemald, occupied by frontline warfare against a dedicated resistance, wouldn't put much effort towards scouring mountainside villages if there was no sign of anything that could cause them trouble, and afterwards would be more focused on securing the major points of occupation as they rebuilt their military strength for the Eorzean campaign? But it does seem to be a bit too out in the open, for sure. Perhaps having it exist a bit more among the interior of the Fanged Crescent, rather than at its foot, would make things more believable? Or, perhaps, have them know about Teibo but not consider it worth the soldiers until a different Legion is put in charge of the region.
I actually did toy with the idea of having Ryuji live in an occupied Teibo for a time before departing, but I couldn't think of a good reason for Kagetora to wait (especially since sending Ryuji would be more difficult with an entrenched Imperial presence), and I wanted the timing to line up so that Ryuji would be arriving just in time for ARR to start. I'll give thought to a different catalyst, though, or maybe find a way to delay his departure from Greylic's Bend so that the Empire could discover Teibo closer to the conclusion of their war effort.
So, in summary:
(1) Reduce the population of Teibo (which I should do anyways) and/or place it further within the Fanged Crescent; or
(2) Have the Empire discover and occupy Teibo earlier (a year or two after Doma falls, perhaps?), with a different catalyst for Ryuji behind sent abroad; or
(3) Have the Empire discover and occupy Teibo earlier, and have Ryuji's odyssey across Othard take longer.
This is a great point, and very easily rectified, too; I can always have the refugee smuggling take place under the nose of the Imperial forces and make it so that they were recently found out, and not need to change anything else. Definitely something I'll be changing!
And yeah, Ryuji needs fleshing out. I've noticed there are quite a few tools around this site to help with that, so I'll be making use of those, along with applying some of the advice given by Nebbs. Thanks again!
Also, a quick request - do you have a full version of that labeled map that you posted? Trying to find a decent-quality one with the labels translated proved pretty trying when I was working on this.
(04-02-2017, 11:42 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: The first and most immediate is the city of Teibo having eluded the Empire's notice for well over twenty-five years despite being located rather centrally in Othard. With Bozja immediately to the west, Doma across the river to the east, Rabanastre somewhere to the south - it just seems that it'd be nearly impossible for a settlement the size of a city (sometimes you refer to it as village, othertimes a city?) to escape the empire's notice for so long right under their very noses, especially if Teibo had ever held trade with any of those cities in the past - someone would've known of its location?
I could see a more remote location working better, such as the foot of the Arras in the north or in the Tail Mountains? At least this offers the protection of the Garleans having to send its armies across the Azim Steppe to scout out Teibo's location when it likely would not need to, having assumed it already conquered all of Othard's known cities in the south.
Ah, yeah, I'll admit to coming up with the population figure on the fly, and probably should have done more in the way of researching Edo-era population demographics. The idea - which I didn't get into a whole lot - is that Teibo and the others weren't regional powerhouses, but weren't completely insignificant either. A cursory look tells me that a population of could probably be reduced to something like a thousand people or less and still fit that bill, and would make it a bit more believable that it could slip through the cracks as an isolated mountain village.Â
Regarding location, I figured it made the most sense to situate Teibo in Yanxia for cultural/racial reasons, and originally - back before we had our current map and I was operating off of Encyclopedia descriptions - it actually *was* the furthest north (but I had assumed the Steppe to be in the western half of the continent, rather than the bulk of the north). My reasoning behind it having not been discovered was its own self-imposed uninvolvement and isolation - surely Garlemald, occupied by frontline warfare against a dedicated resistance, wouldn't put much effort towards scouring mountainside villages if there was no sign of anything that could cause them trouble, and afterwards would be more focused on securing the major points of occupation as they rebuilt their military strength for the Eorzean campaign? But it does seem to be a bit too out in the open, for sure. Perhaps having it exist a bit more among the interior of the Fanged Crescent, rather than at its foot, would make things more believable? Or, perhaps, have them know about Teibo but not consider it worth the soldiers until a different Legion is put in charge of the region.
(04-02-2017, 11:42 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: Alternatively, as Teibo eventually is discovered in the backstory anyways and submits to Garlean rule, having them do this earlier could also work. A different catalyst could just as easily drive Kagetora to send Ryuji in the direction of Eorzea for aid, such as the razing of Doma and Teibo fearing it will be next?
I actually did toy with the idea of having Ryuji live in an occupied Teibo for a time before departing, but I couldn't think of a good reason for Kagetora to wait (especially since sending Ryuji would be more difficult with an entrenched Imperial presence), and I wanted the timing to line up so that Ryuji would be arriving just in time for ARR to start. I'll give thought to a different catalyst, though, or maybe find a way to delay his departure from Greylic's Bend so that the Empire could discover Teibo closer to the conclusion of their war effort.
So, in summary:
(1) Reduce the population of Teibo (which I should do anyways) and/or place it further within the Fanged Crescent; or
(2) Have the Empire discover and occupy Teibo earlier (a year or two after Doma falls, perhaps?), with a different catalyst for Ryuji behind sent abroad; or
(3) Have the Empire discover and occupy Teibo earlier, and have Ryuji's odyssey across Othard take longer.
(04-02-2017, 11:42 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: Second is Greylic's Bend in the south. [...] Â In short, this is another region that should be under Garlean control and occupation for many, many years now. Again, considering that the port is just recently come under Garlean control when Gen and Ryuji arrive in the backstory, it seems like it'd just be easier to have had it always under Garlean control. Seeing as how the Far East and Eorzea have been trading steadily despite Garlean occupation for decades, it shouldn't matter overly much if they exit through a Garlean controlled port or not.
This is a great point, and very easily rectified, too; I can always have the refugee smuggling take place under the nose of the Imperial forces and make it so that they were recently found out, and not need to change anything else. Definitely something I'll be changing!
And yeah, Ryuji needs fleshing out. I've noticed there are quite a few tools around this site to help with that, so I'll be making use of those, along with applying some of the advice given by Nebbs. Thanks again!
Also, a quick request - do you have a full version of that labeled map that you posted? Trying to find a decent-quality one with the labels translated proved pretty trying when I was working on this.
